The Virtue of Charity in Ramadan

https://www.khutbah.info/the-virtue-of-charity-in-ramadan/ O people, be conscious of Allah the Exalted and avail yourselves to the generosity of your Lord through having noble manners and gentle speech. And seek the blessings of your Lord by being generous to relatives and neighbors. For Allah is Generous and loves generosity, Beneficent and loves beneficence, Pardoning and loves forgiveness and pardon. Increase in various acts of worship during Ramadan, especially charity, for it will be your shade on the Day of Resurrection protecting you from the heat of the fire. Also,  it has a great impact in repelling calamities. And its reward is multiplied according to the virtue of the time and place, in which it is given, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ  ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ  وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ ,  وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا  ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ  فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ ,  وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ ,  وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ   وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ    

Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.

 يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102 

Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.

Oh people:

O people, be conscious of Allah the Exalted and avail yourselves to the generosity of your Lord through having noble manners and gentle speech. And seek the blessings of your Lord by being generous to relatives and neighbors. For Allah is Generous and loves generosity, Beneficent and loves beneficence, Pardoning and loves forgiveness and pardon. Increase in various acts of worship during Ramadan, especially charity, for it will be your shade on the Day of Resurrection protecting you from the heat of the fire. Also,  it has a great impact in repelling calamities. And its reward is multiplied according to the virtue of the time and place, in which it is given, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan.

And from the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ during the month of Ramadan is to increase in various acts of worship. Jibril would study the Quran with him ﷺduring Ramadan, and when Jibril met him, he was more generous in giving than a rain bearing wind. He ﷺ was the most generous of people, and even more so in Ramadan. In Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ would increase in charity, kindness, recitation of the Quran, prayer, remembrance, and itikaf (religious seclusion). He used to single out Ramadan for worships that which he did not single out any other months.

Ibn Qayim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 

The Prophet  was the most charitable of people with what he owned, and he did not consider anything given for Allah’s sake too much or too little. No one asked him for something that he had but he gave it, whether it was a lot or a little, and his giving was the giving of one not fearing poverty. Charity and giving were the dearest matters to him, and his  joy and happiness in giving were greater than the recipient’s joy in receiving. He was the most generous in doing good, his right hand was like a rain bearing wind.

And Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said: 

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَجْوَدَ النَّاسِ بِالخَيْرِ، وَكَانَ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فِي رَمَضَانَ حِينَ يَلْقَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ، وَكَانَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ يَلْقَاهُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ، حَتَّى يَنْسَلِخَ، يَعْرِضُ عَلَيْهِ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ القُرْآنَ، فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ، كَانَ أَجْوَدَ بِالخَيْرِ مِنَ الرِّيحِ المُرْسَلَةِ

The Prophet ﷺ was the most generous of people in doing good, and he was at his most generous in Ramadan when Gabriel met him. Gabriel, peace be upon him, met him every night in Ramadan until it ended, to review the Quran with the Prophet ﷺ. When Gabriel met him, he was more generous in doing good than the rain bearing wind. [Bukhari 5, Muslim 2308] 

Al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, commented that this hadith contains multiple benefits, among which is an explanation of the Prophet’s ﷺ great generosity, and the recommended increase of generosity in Ramadan.

Indeed, charity has many virtues, and its virtues increase and magnify in Ramadan. 

Among these virtues is the reward for providing meals for those breaking their fast. The Prophet ﷺ said:

مَنْ فَطَّرَ صَائِمًا كَانَ لَهُ مِثْلُ أَجْرِهِ، غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ أَجْرِ الصَّائِمِ شَيْئًا

Whoever provides a meal to a fasting person will have a reward like his, without reducing the reward of the fasting person at all. [Sahih al-Jami 6415, Tirmidhi 807, Grade: Sahih (Albani)]  

Ibn Taymiyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said that what is meant by providing a meal is giving them enough to satisfy them.   

Among the virtues is that charity is evidence of faith. The Prophet ﷺ said:

والصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهانٌ

And charity is proof. [Muslim 223]

Al-Nawawi said that it means that charity is proof of the faith of the one giving it. For hypocrites abstain from giving charity because they do not believe in it. Whoever gives charity will prove the sincerity of their faith.  

Among the virtues is that charity heals physical diseases and spiritual diseases of the heart. The Prophet ﷺ said:

دَاوُوا مَرْضَاكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ

Treat your sick with charity. [Abu Dawood 105, Grade: Sahih]

Among the virtues of charity is that it repels adversaries. 

Yahya (peace be upon him) said:

وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَسَرَهُ العَدُوُّ، فَأَوْثَقُوا يَدَهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ وَقَدَّمُوهُ لِيَضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ، فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَفْدِيهِ مِنْكُمْ بِالقَلِيلِ وَالكَثِيرِ، فَفَدَى نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ

I command you to give charity because its example is like that of a man captured by the enemy who have tied his hands to his neck and brought him forward to strike his neck, but he said: ‘I can ransom myself from you with a little or a lot,’ and so he ransomed himself from them.” [Sahih At Tirmithi 2863, Grade: Sahih (Albani)] 

Ibn Al-Qayyim said that charity has a remarkable effect in repelling different kinds of calamities, even if it is from a wicked person or an oppressor. For Allah Almighty repels different kinds of calamities through charity.  He also stated that this matter is known to the people.

And among the virtues of charity is that it affirms one’s trust in Allah’s promise over the devil’s promise. Allah Almighty says:

الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَاللَّهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلًا وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ -البقرة  268

Al-Baqarah (2) 268: Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allāh promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.

Allah, Exalted be He, promises His servants forgiveness from Him for their sins and bounty by giving them more than they spent, many times over, either in this world or in both this world and the hereafter.

Allah Almighty says:

وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُمْ مِنْ نَذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ -البقرة  270

Al-Baqarah (2) 270: And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows – indeed, Allah knows of it. And for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.   

Ibn Kathir said that whatever one spends of what Allah has commanded and permitted, Allah will give it back to them in this world by replacing it and in the Hereafter through reward and recompense.   

And Allah says:                        

إِنَّ الْمُصَّدِّقِينَ وَالْمُصَّدِّقَاتِ وَأَقْرَضُوا اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمْ وَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَرِيمٌ -الحديد18

Al-Hadid (57)18: Indeed, the men who practice charity and the women who practice charity and [they who] have loaned Allāh a goodly loan – it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.

And Allah Almighty says: 

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً -البقرة   245

Al-Baqarah (2) 245: Who is it that would loan Allāh a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? 

And the Prophet ﷺ said: 

مَا نَقَصَتْ صَدَقَةٌ مِنْ مَالٍ

Charity does not decrease wealth. [ Muslim 2588]

And among the virtues of charity is that it purifies a person from sins. Allah Almighty says: 

خُذْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ صَدَقَةً تُطَهِّرُهُمْ وَتُزَكِّيهِمْ بِهَا -التوبة  103 

At-Tawbah (9) 103: Take, [O, Muhammad], from their wealth a charity by which you purify them and cause them increase.

And among the virtues of charity is that one will be shaded by their charity on the Day of Judgment until judgment is passed among the people.

The Prophet ﷺ said: 

كُلُّ امْرِئٍ فِي ظِلِّ صَدَقَتِهِ حَتَّى يُفْصَلَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ، أَوْ قَالَ: حَتَّى يُحْكَمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ قَالَ يَزِيدُ: فَكَانَ أَبُو الْخَيْرِ لَا يُخْطِئُهُ يَوْمٌ لَا يَتَصَدَّقُ مِنْهُ بِشَيْءٍ، وَلَوْ كَعْكَةً وَلَوْ بَصَلَةً

Every man will be in the shade of his charity until the judgment is decided among the people. Or he said, until judgement is passed between the people. Yazid said: Abu Al-Khair gave something in charity every single day without fail, even a biscuit or an onion. [Sahih Ibn Khuzaimah 159/4, Grade: Sahih (Albani)] 

And the Prophet ﷺ said:   

سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي ظِلِّهِ، يَوْمَ لاَ ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلُّهُ

 وذكر منهم:  وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا، حَتَّى لاَ تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا صَنَعَتْ يَمِينُهُ

Seven will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the Day of Resurrection when there is no shade but His

And he ﷺ mentioned that among them is: 

A man who gives in charity and conceals it so that his left hand did not know what his right hand is doing.  [Bukhari 6806, Muslim 1031a]

And among the virtues of charity is that it is a protection from the fire. The Prophet ﷺ said: 

اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ

Protect yourselves from the fire, even with half a date [in charity]. [Bukhari 6540, Muslim 1016d]

And the Prophet ﷺ said: 

مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَتِرَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، فَلْيَفْعَلْ

Whoever among you can protect himself against the Fire, even with half a date, let him do so. [Muslim 1016a]

And among the virtues of charity is receiving the supplications of the angels. The Prophet ﷺ  said: 

مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصْبِحُ العِبَادُ فِيهِ، إِلَّا مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلاَنِ، فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا، وَيَقُولُ الآخَرُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا

Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one of them says, ‘O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your cause,’ and the other (angel) says, ‘O Allah! Destroy every miser.’ [Bukhari 1442, Muslim 1010]

And among the virtues of charity is that there is a gate in Paradise called ‘the Gate of Charity.’ The Prophet ﷺ said: 

وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّدَقَةِ دُعِيَ مِنْ بَابِ الصَّدَقَةِ

For those who are regular in their charity, they will be called to enter ( Paradise) from  the ‘the gate of charity’. [Bukhari 3666 and Muslim 1027a]

And among the virtues of charity is that it is a reason for Allah to spend on you. The Prophet ﷺ said: 

قَالَ اللَّهُ: أَنْفِقْ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ أُنْفِقْ عَلَيْكَ

Allah said : Spend (in charity) , O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you. [Bukhari 5352 and Muslim 993a]

And among the virtues of charity is that if it coincides with fasting, following a funeral procession, and visiting the sick, it mandates Paradise for the person. The Prophet ﷺ said: 

مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ صَائِمًا،» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، قَالَ: «فَمَنْ تَبِعَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَازَةً،» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، قَالَ: «فَمَنْ أَطْعَمَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مِسْكِينًا» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، قَالَ: «فَمَنْ عَادَ مِنْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَرِيضًا» قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنَا، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا اجْتَمَعْنَ فِي امْرِئٍ إِلا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ

Who among you is fasting today? Abu Bakr said, ‘I am.’ He asked, ‘Who among you followed a funeral procession today?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘I did.’ He asked, ‘Who among you fed a poor person today?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘I did.’ He asked, ‘Who among you visited a sick person today?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘I did.’ Then the Prophet ﷺ said, ‘If these [qualities] are combined in a person, they will enter Paradise.'[Muslim 1028b]

أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ  لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ  إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Second Khutbah

الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ,  وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ  , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ

All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.

Oh Muslims:

Among the greatest acts of charity this month is alleviating the distress of the weakened among the believers, deferring the debt of those in difficulty, and making things easier for them, including tenants and debtors, among others. The Prophet ﷺ said: 

مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا، نَفَّسَ اللهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ، يَسَّرَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ) رواه مسلم

Whoever relieves a worldly distress from a believer, Allah will relieve his distress on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever makes things easy for an indebted person, Allah will make it easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. [Muslim 2699a]

Being kind to creation is rewarded now and later. After having received the first revelation the Prophet ﷺ  was shaken and went to his wife Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, and said: O Khadijah, what is wrong with me? I was afraid for myself.” After he informed of what he had experienced, Khadijah said: 

كَلاَّ، أَبْشِرْ، فَوَاللهِ لاَ يُخْزِيكَ اللهُ أَبَدًا، فَوَاللهِ إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَصْدُقُ الحَدِيثَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ المَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الحَقِّ

Certainly not, have glad tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, you keep good relations with your relatives, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, host guests generously and assist those stricken with calamities. [Bukhari 4953 and Muslim 160a]

One important aspect of charity is not to count it. The Prophet ﷺ said:

أَنْفِقِي، وَلاَ تُحْصِي، فَيُحْصِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ، وَلاَ تُوعِي، فَيُوعِيَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ

Spend (in charity), and do not count (what you give), otherwise Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will count what He gives to you, and do not accumulate, otherwise Allah withholds from you. [Bukhari 2591and Muslim 1029d]

Ibn Hajar said that the meaning is not to accumulate and be stingy with spending, lest you are repaid in kind. Al-Nawawi said that the meaning is that Allah will withhold from the miserly just as they withhold, and give them in a limited fashion just as they give in a limited fashion , and withhold his grace from the miserly just as the they withheld it. And the meaning of ‘do not count’ is do not count it lest a person thinks that they are giving a lot and it becomes a reason for stopping to give in charity.  

May Allah make us among the generous and benevolent and protect us from miserliness and stinginess. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed.  For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا

O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good

 عِبَادَ اللّهِ  إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ  يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. 

اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا   وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.  

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